Tribute to Leopoldo O’Donnell y Jorís

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Art · Subcategory: Sculpture · Year: 2009 · Authors: Agustín Querol y Subirats

This bust of General O'Donnell was placed in 2009 at the entrance to García Sanabria Park from Numancia Street, in the well-known Bamboo Walk. It was an initiative of the City Council, marking the bicentenary of the birth of the honouree and the 150th anniversary of the granting of the title of City to Santa Cruz, an event that took place in 1859 when O'Donnell was head of the Government of Spain.

The sculpture is a copy of an original work preserved in the City Council, created at the beginning of the 20th century by the renowned sculptor Agustín Querol y Subirach.

Leopoldo O'Donnell (1809-1867) was one of the most prominent military and political figures of the 19th century; his entire career was under the reign of Isabel II. He was born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1809, the year his father was stationed as commander general of the Canary Islands. Leopoldo O'Donnell's military career was meteoric, becoming in a very short time the most brilliant military man of his era thanks to promotions obtained during the Carlist Wars. He was Captain General of Cuba and a fervent supporter of the war in Africa, where, in 1860, he occupied Tetuán, a victory that earned him the title Duke of Tetuán with Grandeza de España. As a politician, he was first a moderate and later formed the Liberal Union, a party with which he tried to unite moderates and progressives. He held the position of head of the Government of Spain on four occasions (1856, 1858-59, 1860-63 and 1865-66). He is the person born in Santa Cruz who reached the highest political rank.

The bust we can admire today in the Park was made in bronze and installed on a metal support that contains, at its base, a plaque with the following inscription: “ Lieutenant General LEOPOLDO O'DONNELL Y JORIS, Duke of Tetuán, President of the Government, Minister of War 1809-1867 Under his mandate, in 1859, his birthplace, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, attained the title of City. Its City Council erects this monument on the bicentenary of his birth and the 150th anniversary of that event ”

As a curiosity, it should be noted that the old bust now kept in the City Council and which served as the original for the one we see today in the Park was considered, at the beginning of the 20th century, to be placed in the centre of what later became known as Plaza de los Patos.

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